A Christmas Wish Comes True, Flexing Mussels and Fighting Fires: Pick of Our Patches

 Editor’s Note: Every week we bring you a sampling of stories from Patch sites in the west metro: Eden Prairie, Edina, Fridley, Golden Valley, Hopkins, Lake Minnetonka, Maple Grove, Minnetonka, Plymouth, Richfield, Southwest Minneapolis, St. Louis Park and St. Michael.

 AUDIO: Centennial Teacher's Christmas Wish Comes True

Debbie Gill, who was recently diagnosed with a serious stomach cancer, was nominated by a fellow faculty member to get a little help from KDWB's Dave Ryan.

UPDATED: Police Investigate Officer-Involved Shooting in Nearby Crystal/New Hope

According to a statement released from the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, a shooting in Crystal on Dec. 14 left an officer injured and a man in custody. Minneapolis police arrested the suspect, who was found with a gun shot wound, in South Minneapolis later that day.

Residents woke up to banging doors and the smell of smoke as a ground floor unit smoldered Saturday at the complex on Wright County Road 37.

Maple Grove Council Endorses Application to MnDOT for Transit Station Expansion Funds

The Maple Grove City Council recently approved endorsing the city’s application to request $2.8 million to construct the second phase of the Parkway Transit Station

Back on the NY Times: Minnetonka Grad Writes about College

A 2011 Minnetonka High School grad, Abby Hansen has returned to write for The New York Times.Two Minnetonka High School students were selected to blog about their college application process for The Times last year. Now, Hanson has been invited back to answer reader questions about what college life is like after you’ve made your choice. As a freshman at the University of Minnesota, the transition for Hanson has not been as easy as she expected.

What Do You Know About the Metro's Light Rail Projects?

Whether you like it or not, light rail is the talk of the metro at the moment. With so many miles of track on the table, keeping tabs on the details can be daunting. To make it a little easier, Patch has collected all the specifics in one place. 

SuperValu Moving Toward Sale to Cerberus: Business Roundup

After talks of a full takeover stalled a couple weeks ago, SuperValu is now moving toward a deal to sell retail chains such as Albertsons and Save-A-Lot toCerberus Capital Management LP.

St. Louis Park Residents Complain About Plowing

The city's communications staff responded after about 10 inches of snow blanketed the town.

Can Zequanox be the Answer to Lake Minnetonka's Zebra Mussel Infestation?

Latest open water test of Zequanox yielded a 97.1 mortality rate. Could Lake Minnetonka be the next test site?

New Plymouth Restaurants: Year in Review
Plymouth landed several new restaurants in 2012. Check out the list of new eateries.

VIDEO: Fridley's 'Mippey5' Posts 'Snowfall' Spoof of Adele's 'Skyfall' Theme Song

The YouTube sensation behind the Minnesota Gurls parody of Katy Perry's California Gurls takes on the latest James Bond theme—with a Fridley snowplow truck making a cameo appearance.